March 13 marked the 24th year since the passing of my maternal grandfather, George Joseph Niesl. We’re all very fortunate to have family members who had the foresight to document the lives of our ancestors. My cousin Kari knew I had this recording in my possession and asked to make a copy. I thought it […]
It’s not an over-exaggeration to say that if ever there was an angel on this earth, it was my Grandma Emma. Emma Nathalia (Walz) Niesl was born to Fredrich and Sophia (Bischke) Walz on May 2, 1913. Both Fred and Sophie, along with their respective families, came to America, settling on the harsh plains of
My maternal grandmother, Emma (Walz) Niesl was born in Freeman, SD in 1913 to Fred Walz and Sophie Bischke. The Walzes and Bischkes were German, but we had always been told as kids that they had lived in Russia or Ukraine. This seemed to make our family history just a little exotic, almost as if